Vacuum cleaner with power cord support

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner for improving user convenience. The vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body connected with a suction brush, and a power cord holding device rotatably disposed on the cleaner body. The power cord holding device rotates between a first position to stow or use the vacuum cleaner and a second position to allow a user to wind a power cord after use of the vacuum cleaner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean PatentApplication No. 2005-37700, filed May 4, 2005, the entire contents ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference. This application disclosessubject matter that may be related to commonly owned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/258,180, filed Oct. 26, 2005, and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. ______, filed ______, claiming priority to KoreanPatent Application No. 2005-29814 entitled Power Cord Arranging DeviceFor A Vacuum Cleaner (116511-00174), and the subject matter of each ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and moreparticularly, to a vacuum cleaner employing a power cord holding devicewhich facilitates the arrangement of a power cord looped around acleaner body of an upright vacuum cleaner after use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vacuum cleaners are largely either a canister type vacuum cleaner or anupright type vacuum cleaner. Conventional canister vacuum cleaners havea cord reel assembly to retract a power cord into a cleaner body afteruse. Conventional upright vacuum cleaners have a power cord longer thanthat of the canister vacuum cleaner, so they typically use a windingdevice disposed on the outside of the cleaner body to store the powercord by winding it around the winding device.

However, in order to wind the power cord around the winding device ofthe vacuum cleaner, a user has to bend forward at the waist or drop downon a knee, thereby inconveniencing the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in order to solve the aboveproblem in the related art. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentinvention is to provide a vacuum cleaner having an improved structurewhich allows a user to wind a power cord in a more convenient position.

The above aspect is achieved by providing a vacuum cleaner including acleaner body connected with a suction brush, a power cord holding devicerotatably disposed on the cleaner body, and a fixing device to fix thepower cord holding device to the cleaner body. The power cord holdingdevice turns between a first position to stow or use the vacuum cleaner,and a second position to allow a user to wind and store the power cordafter use of the vacuum cleaner.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the power cord holding device isdisposed on a side surface of the cleaner body and pivots on a pivotingaxis. Preferably, but not necessarily, the power cord holding deviceincludes a power cord winding plate around which the power cord iswound, a first power cord support pin assembly disposed adjacent to thepivoting axis of the power cord winding plate, and a second power cordsupport pin assembly disposed on the other end of the power cord windingplate opposite to the first power cord support pin assembly.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first power cord support pinassembly includes a first support pin seating portion formed in thepower cord winding plate; a fixing boss protruding from a center of thefirst supporting pin seating portion; a first power cord support pinhaving a first penetrating hole defined in a center corresponding to thefixing boss, the first power cord support pin being rotatably mounted inthe first support pin seating portion; a screw driven in the fixing bosswith a washer; and a first elastic member having one end supported on abottom of the first power cord support pin through which the fixing bosspenetrates, and the other end supported by the washer.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first power cord support pinassembly further includes at least one fixing recess formed on an outercircumference of the first support pin seating portion, and at least onefixing protrusion formed on the first power cord supporting pincorresponding to the fixing recess of the first power cord supportingpin. When the first power cord support pin is pulled out, the fixingprotrusion is released from the fixing recess.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the pivoting axis of the power cordwinding plate is formed on the opposite side of the first power cordsupport pin seating portion and inserted in the cleaner body.Preferably, but not necessarily, an locking ring is disposed around anouter circumference of the pivoting axis, and a ring receiving recess isformed in an insertion recess of the cleaner body in which the pivotingaxis is received, the locking ring being received in the ring receivingrecess.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the fixing device includes a firstlocking unit to fix the power cord holding device at the secondposition, and a second locking unit to fix the power cord holding deviceat the first position. Preferably, but not necessarily, the firstlocking unit includes a first press button assembly disposed on thepower cord winding plate, and a first pop-up protrusion assembly formedin the cleaner body and fitted in the first press button assembly whenthe power cord holding device rotates to the second position.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first press button assemblyincludes a first press button seating portion disposed in the power cordwinding plate and has a second penetrating hole which is defined in acenter thereof and penetrates through the power cord winding plate; afirst press button seated in the first press button seating portion; asecond elastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the firstpress button seating portion and the other end supported on the firstpress button; and at least one first hook and at least one first hookreceiving recess which are formed on the first press button and thefirst press button seating portion, respectively, to correspond to eachother.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first pop-up protrusion assemblyincludes a protrusion seating recess depressed in the cleaner body, apop-up protrusion being movable upwardly and downwardly in theprotrusion seating recess, a third elastic member having one endsupported on a bottom of the protrusion seating recess and the other endfitted in the first pop-up protrusion, and a support plate to preventthe first pop-up protrusion from escaping from the protrusion seatingrecess.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the second locking unit includes asecond power cord support pin assembly disposed in the power cordwinding plate, and a second pop-up protrusion assembly formed in thecleaner body and fitted in the second power cord support pin assemblywhen the power cord holding device moves to the first position.Preferably, but not necessarily, the second pop-up protrusion assemblyhas the same structure as that of the first pop-up protrusion assembly.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the second power cord support pinassembly includes a second press button seating portion disposed in thepower cord winding plate and having a third penetrating hole which isdefined in a center thereof and penetrates through the power cordwinding plate; a second power cord support pin integrally formed withthe second press button seating portion; a second press button movablyseated in the second press button seating portion; a fourth elasticmember having one end supported on a bottom of the second press buttonseating portion and the other end supported on the second press button;and at least one second hook and at least one second hook receivingrecess which are formed on the second press button and the second pressbutton seating portion, respectively, to correspond to each other.

According to the present invention, since the power cord holding deviceis rotated to a higher position than the conventional vacuum cleaners, auser does not need to bend forward at the waist or drop down at theknees. Accordingly, a user can easily wind the power cord around thepower cord holding device to store the cord.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the present invention will become apparentand more readily appreciated from the following description of theembodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner employing a power cordholding device according to an embodiment of the present invention,showing the power cord holding device in a first position;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first power cord support pinassembly of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first power cord support pinassembly of FIG. 2, showing the operation of the assembly;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view in section of the first power cord supportpin assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a first press button assemblyof the vacuum clean of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view in section of the first power cordsupport pin assembly and the first press button assembly illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 5, showing the power cord holding device in a first positionaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view in section of the first power cordsupport pin assembly and the first press button assembly illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 5, showing the power cord holding device in a secondposition according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a first pop-up protrusionassembly and a second pop-up protrusion assembly of the vacuum cleaneraccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are elevational views in section of the second power cordsupport pin assembly of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1, showing theassembly in first and second positions, respectively;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner, showing the powercord holding device positioned at the second position according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a cleaner body 100, a power cord holding device 200 and afixing device 300, and a power cord 400. A dust-collecting device (notshown) and vacuum suction means (not shown) are disposed in the cleanerbody 100. The power cord holding device 200 is rotatably disposed on thecleaner body 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the power cord holding device 200is located at a side surface of the cleaner body 100.

The power cord holding device 200 comprises a power cord winding plate210, a first power cord support pin assembly 220, and a second powercord support pin assembly 230. The power cord winding plate 210 ispivotably disposed on the cleaner body 100. Preferably, the pivot axisof the power cord winding plate 210 is coaxially with the first powercord support pin assembly 220.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the first power cord support pin assembly 220comprises a first support pin seating portion 221, a fixing boss 222, afirst power cord support pin 223, a screw 224, and a first elasticmember 225. The first support pin seating portion 221 is integrallyformed with the power cord winding plate 210 and has two fixing recesses221 a formed in an outer circumference thereof. The fixing boss 222protrudes from the center of the first support pin seating portion 221.

The first power cord support pin 223 is rotatably coupled to the firstsupport pin seating portion 221, and has a first penetrating hole 223 a(see FIG. 4) formed in a portion corresponding to the fixing boss 222such that the fixing boss 222 passes through the first penetrating hole223 a when the first power cord assembly pin 223 is seated in the firstsupport pin seating portion 221. The power cord support pin 223 hasfixing protrusions 223 b (see FIG. 6) corresponding to the fixingrecesses 221 a of the first support pin seating portion 221. When thefirst power cord support pin 223 is in an upright position as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the fixing protrusions 223 b fit into the fixing recesses221 a.

In order to turn the first power cord support pin 223 in a clockwisedirection from the upright position as shown in FIG. 3, the power cordsupport pin 223 is pulled out to release the fixing protrusions 223 bfrom the fixing recesses 221 a. That is, when the first power cordsupport pin 223 is pulled out, the fixing protrusions 223 b (see FIG. 6)separates from the fixing recesses 221 a (see FIG. 4), thereby allowingrotation of the first power cord support pin, as shown in FIG. 3.

The screw 224 is driven in the fixing boss 222 together with a washer224 a. The washer 224 prevents the first elastic member 225 fromescaping from the boss 222. The first elastic member 225 has one endsupported on a bottom 223 c of the first power cord support pin 223through which the fixing boss 222 penetrates, and the other endsupported on the washer 224 a.

The other side of the power cord winding plate 210 opposite to the firstsupport pin seating portion 221 is provided with a pivoting axis 211(FIG. 7) on which the power cord winding plate 210 pivots. An lockingring 212 is disposed around the outer circumference of the pivoting axis211. A ring receiving recess is formed in an insert recess 110 of thecleaner body 100 where the pivoting axis 211 is received, for receivingthe escape preventing ring 212 as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The fixing device 300 fixes the power cord holding device 200 at a firstposition (see FIG. 1) after winding the power cord 400 and when thevacuum cleaner is in use, and fixes the power cord holding device 200 ata second position (see FIG. 11) to wind the power cord 400 after use ofthe vacuum cleaner. FIG. 6 shows the power cord winding plate 210positioned at the first position, and FIG. 7 shows the power cordwinding plate 210 positioned at the second position.

The fixing device 300 comprises a first locking unit 310 to fix thepower cord holding device 200 at the second position, as shown in FIG.7, and a second locking unit 340 (see FIG. 1) to fix the power cordholding device 200 at the first position, as shown in FIG. 9.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the first locking unit 310 comprises a firstpress button assembly 320 and a first pop-up protrusion assembly 330. Asshown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first press button assembly 320 is disposedon the power cord winding plate 210 and comprises a first press buttonseating portion 321, a first press button 322, a second elastic member323, first hooks 324 and first hook receiving recesses 325. The firstpress button seating portion 321 protrudes from the power cord windingplate 210 and has a second penetrating hole 321 a defined in the centerthereof. The second penetrating hole 321 a is formed in the power cordwinding plate 210.

The first press button 322 is movably disposed in the first press buttonseating portion 321. The first press button 322 has a first press boss322 a extending from the center thereof in a lengthwise direction. Thesecond elastic member 323 is disposed around the first press boss 322 aand has one end supported on a bottom 321 b (FIG. 7) of the first pressbutton seating portion 321 and the other end connected to the firstpress button 322 to elastically support the first press button 322.

The first hooks 324 and the first hook receiving recesses 325 preventthe first press button 322 from separating from the first press buttonseating portion 321. In this embodiment, four first hooks 324 protrudearound the first press button 322 at a predetermined interval, and thefirst hook receiving recesses 325 are formed around the first pressbutton seating portion 321 to correspond to the first hooks 324.

The first pop-up protrusion assembly 330 (FIG. 6) comprises a protrusionseating recess 331, a pop-up protrusion 332, a third elastic member 333and a support plate 334 as shown in FIG. 7. The protrusion seatingrecess 331 is depressed in the cleaner body 100 with a predetermineddepth. The pop-up protrusion 332 is movably disposed in the protrusionseating recess 331. The pop-up protrusion 332 has a first cylindricalpart 332 a having a circumference corresponding to the secondpenetrating hole 321 a and a second cylindrical part 332 b having adiameter larger than that of the first cylindrical part 332 a. The thirdelastic member 333 (FIG. 7) has one end supported on a bottom 331 a ofthe protrusion seating recess 331 and the other end inserted into thepop-up protrusion 332.

The support plate 334 prevents the pop-up protrusion 332 from escapingfrom the protrusion seating recess 331, and has a size corresponding tothe size of the protrusion seating recess 331 and has a protrusionpenetrating hole 334 a (FIG. 8) defined in the center thereof to allowthe first cylindrical part 332 a to pass therethrough. The firstcylindrical part 332 a of the pop-up protrusion 332 protrudes to theoutside of the support plate 334 through the protrusion penetrating hole334 a, and the second cylindrical part 332 b contacts the support plate334 to restrict the ascending movement of the pop-up protrusion 332.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the second locking unit 340 comprises thesecond power cord support pin assembly 230 and a second pop-upprotrusion assembly 350. The second power cord support pin assembly 230comprises a second press button seating portion 231, a second power cordsupport pin 232, a second press button 233, a fourth elastic member 234,second hooks 235 and second hook receiving recesses 236.

The second press button seating portion 231 is formed on the power cordwinding plate 210, and comprises a third penetrating hole 231 aextending though the power cord winding plate 210, and a guide boss 231b to guide the ascending/descending movements of the second press button233.

The second power cord support pin 232 is integrally formed with thesecond press button seating portion 231. The second press button 233 ismovable upwardly and downwardly with respect to the second press buttonseating portion 231, and has a second press boss 233 a extending fromthe center of the second press button 233 in a lengthwise direction. Thefourth elastic member 234 has one end fitting over the guide boss 231 bto be supported on a bottom 231 c of the second press button seatingportion 231 and the other end connected to the second press button 233.

The second hooks 235 and the second hook receiving recesses 236 preventthe second press button 233 from separating from the second press buttonseating portion 231. Preferably, four second hooks 235 are formed aroundthe second press button 233, and the second hook receiving recesses 236are formed around the circumference of the second press button seatingportion 231 corresponding to the second hooks 235.

The second pop-up protrusion assembly 350 is same as the first pop-upprotrusion assembly 330, except for different reference numerals. Asshown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the second pop-up protrusion assembly 350comprises a protrusion seating recess 351, a pop-up protrusion 352, athird elastic member 353, and a support plate 354. The pop-up protrusion352 has first and second cylindrical parts 352 a and 352 b, and theprotrusion seating recess 351 has a bottom 351 a.

Referring to FIG. 1, the cleaner body 100 has regulation protrusions 120to restrict the rotation angle of the power cord holding device 200. Theregulation protrusions 120 comprise a first regulation protrusion 121 tofix the power cord holding device 200 at the first position and a secondregulation protrusion 122 to fix the power cord holding device 200 atthe second position. Preferably, the first and the second regulationprotrusions 121, 122 are integrally formed with the cleaner body 100.

Hereinafter, operation of the vacuum cleaner according to an embodimentof the present invention will now be described.

The power cord holding device 200 is disposed on the cleaner body 100and rotatable from the first position, as shown in FIG. 1, to the secondposition, as shown in FIG. 11. The power cord holding device 200 ispositioned at the first position to allow a user to unwind the powercord 400 when using the vacuum cleaner, whereas the power cord holdingdevice 200 is positioned and fixed at the second position to allow auser to wind and store the power cord around the power cord holdingdevice 200 after using the vacuum cleaner.

The vacuum cleaner according to the present invention is stowed with thepower cord 400 wound around the cleaner body 100. In order to use thevacuum cleaner, the power cord 400 is unwound and plugged into a walloutlet. To unwind the power cord 400 easily, the user turns the firstpower cord support pin assembly 220, as shown in FIG. 3. Morespecifically, in order to turn the first power cord support pin assembly220, the first power cord support pin 223 is pulled out such that thefixing recesses 221 a (see FIG. 2) and the fixing protrusions 223 b (seeFIG. 6) are released from the locking state. Then, the first power cordsupport pin 223 is turned in a clockwise direction or counterclockwisedirection to allow the power cord to be easily unwound. After unwindingthe power cord, the first power cord support pin 223 returns itsoriginal position to fit the fixing protrusions 223 b into the fixingrecesses 221 a.

After using the vacuum cleaner, the user releases the second lockingunit 340 allowing rotation of the power cord holding device 200. Thatis, when the user presses the second press button 233, the second pressbutton 233 pushes the pop-up protrusion 352 so that the pop-upprotrusion 352 releases from the third penetrating hole 231 a formed inthe power cord winding plate 210. Then, the power cord winding plate 210is released from the locking state.

Then the power cord holding device 200 can be rotated from the firstposition (FIG. 1) to the second position (FIG. 11) by as much as 180°.That is, the power cord holding device 200 is rotated until it contactsthe second regulation protrusion 122. At the second position, the powercord holding device 200 is fixed by the first locking unit 310. Thefirst pop-up protrusion 332, which was drawn back to the protrusionseating recess 331 by the power cord holding device 200 at the firstposition, as shown in FIG. 6, pops up through the second penetratinghole 321 a formed in the first press button assembly 320 and fixes thepower cord holding device 200 at the second position, as shown in FIG.7.

When the power cord holding device 200 is rotated to the secondposition, the power cord holding device 200 extends toward the handle ofthe vacuum cleaner closer to the waist of the user, as seen in FIG. 11,so that the user does not need to bend forward or drop down to wind thepower cord 400.

After winding the power cord 400, the user presses the first pressbutton 322 of the first press button assembly 220 so that the firstpop-up protrusion 332 escapes from the second penetrating hole 321 a andthe power cord holding device 200 is rotated to the original firstposition.

Since the power cord holding device 200 can be rotated to a higherposition than conventional vacuum cleaners, the user does not need tobend forward or drop down allowing the user to more easily wind thepower cord 400.

The foregoing embodiment and advantages are merely exemplary and are notto be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teachingcan be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, thedescription of the embodiments of the present invention is intended tobe illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and manyalternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body connected with a suctionbrush; and a power cord holding device rotatably coupled to the cleanerbody, the power cord holding device being pivotable between a first stowposition adjacent the cleaner body, and a second wind position remotefrom the suction brush allowing a user to wind a power cord on the powercord holding device.
 2. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1,wherein the power cord holding device is disposed on a side surface ofthe cleaner body and pivots on a pivoting axis.
 3. The vacuum cleaner asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the power cord holding device comprises: apower cord winding plate around which the power cord is wound; a firstpower cord support pin assembly disposed adjacent to the pivoting axisof the power cord winding plate; and a second power cord support pinassembly disposed on the other end of the power cord winding plateopposite to the first power cord support pin assembly.
 4. The vacuumcleaner as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first power cord support pinassembly comprises: a first support pin seating portion formed in thepower cord winding plate; a fixing boss protruding from a center of thefirst supporting pin seating portion; a first power cord support pinhaving a first penetrating hole defined in a center corresponding to thefixing boss, the first power cord support pin rotatably mounted in thefirst support pin seating portion; and a first elastic member having oneend supported on a bottom of the first power cord support pin throughwhich the fixing boss penetrates, and the other end supported by thewasher.
 5. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4, wherein the firstpower cord support pin assembly further comprises: at least one fixingrecess formed on an outer circumference of the first support pin seatingportion; and at least one fixing protrusion formed on the first powercord supporting pin corresponding to the fixing recess of the firstpower cord supporting pin, wherein when the first power cord support pinis pulled out, the fixing protrusion releases from the fixing recesssuch that a locking is released.
 6. The vacuum cleaner as claimed inclaim 4, wherein the pivoting axis of the power cord winding plate isformed on the opposite side of the first power cord support pin seatingportion and inserted in the cleaner body.
 7. The vacuum cleaner asclaimed in claim 6, wherein a locking ring is disposed around an outercircumference of the pivoting axis, and a ring receiving recess isformed in an insertion recess of the cleaner body in which the pivotingaxis is received, the locking ring being received in the ring receivingrecess.
 8. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, further comprisinga fixing device to fix the power cord holding device to the cleaner, thefixing device comprises a first locking unit to fix the power cordholding device at the second position, and a second locking unit to fixthe power cord holding device at the first position.
 9. The vacuumcleaner as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first locking unit comprises:a first press button assembly disposed on the power cord winding plate;and a first pop-up protrusion assembly formed in the cleaner body andfitted in the first press button assembly when the power cord holdingdevice rotates to the second position.
 10. The vacuum cleaner as claimedin claim 9, wherein the first press button assembly comprises: a firstpress button seating portion disposed in the power cord winding plateand having a second penetrating hole which is defined in a centerthereof and penetrates through the power cord winding plate; a firstpress button seated in the first press button seating portion; a secondelastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the first pressbutton seating portion and the other end supported on the first pressbutton; and at least one first hook and at least one first hookreceiving recess which are formed on the first press button and thefirst press button seating portion, respectively, to correspond to eachother.
 11. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 8, wherein the firstpop-up protrusion assembly comprises: a protrusion seating recessdepressed in the cleaner body; a pop-up protrusion being movableupwardly and downwardly in the protrusion seating recess; a thirdelastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the protrusionseating recess and the other end fitted in the first pop-up protrusion;and a support plate to prevent the first pop-up protrusion from escapingfrom the protrusion seating recess.
 12. The vacuum cleaner as claimed inclaim 8, wherein the second locking unit comprises: a second power cordsupport pin assembly disposed in the power cord winding plate; and asecond pop-up protrusion assembly formed in the cleaner body and fittedin the second power cord support pin assemlby when the power cordholding device moves to the first position.
 13. The vacuum cleaner asclaimed in claim 12, wherein the second power cord support pin assemblycomprises: a second press button seating portion disposed in the powercord winding plate and having a third penetrating hole which is definedin a center thereof and penetrates through the power cord winding plate;a second power cord support pin integrally formed with the second pressbutton seating portion; a second press button movably seated in thesecond press button seating portion; a fourth elastic member having oneend supported on a bottom of the second press button seating portion andthe other end supported on the second press button; and at least onesecond hook and at least one second hook receiving recess which areformed on the second press button and the second press button seatingportion, respectively, to correspond to each other.
 14. The vacuumcleaner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second pop-up protrusionassembly comprises: a protrusion seating recess depressed in the cleanerbody; a pop-up protrusion being movable upwardly and downwardly in theprotrusion seating recess; a third elastic member having one endsupported on a bottom of the protrusion seating recess and the other endfitted in the pop-up protrusion; and a support plate to prevent thepop-up protrusion from escaping from the protrusion seating recess.